The Supreme Court has allowed five groups to intervene when its 11 justices hear the government’s Brexit appeal.

Applications were granted to the Scottish and Welsh governments, a group of ex-patriots, the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain and Lawyers for Britain – a group of lawyers led by Martin Howe QC, of London’s 8 New Square Chambers.

Lawyers for the pro-single market think tank, British Influence, may mount a separate challenge over whether the UK stays inside the single market after Brexit.

Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the Supreme Court, Lady Hale, prompted debate following comments in a speech to lawyers in Kuala Lumpar. She said that the referendum result was not legally binding – a fact on which all parties to the case agree.